Last year during Lent, while praying the Way of the cross, Josip Jurina and Stjepan Sačer from Gornja Stubica, Croatia, decided to come on foot to Medjugorje. They were preparing themselves, and made a pilgrimage on foot to Marija Bistrica (27 kilometers), they started their pilgrimage to Medjugorje on May 27. they took 11 days to cros 550 kilometers. On arrival to Medjugorje, on June 6, they participated in the Evening prayer program, and the next day, they climbed the Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain.

VATICAN CITY - Confrontation of opinions: the beauty of dialectics. On the columns of our newspaper, the trustworthy Bishop and exorcist, Monsignor Andrea Gemma, has severely fustigated the phenomenon of Medjugorje defining it as “a great deceit”. We wanted to hear also a favorable opinion on the apparitions in that country. Therefore we have interviewed one of the most authoritative living mariologists, Father Renè Laurentin.

Mr. Petar Čobanković, Minister of the regional development in the Croatian Government, visited Medjugorje on Friday, May 30th. He was hosted by Mr. Ivo Jerkić, the Mayor of Čitluk, Fr. Svetozar Kraljević, Director of Mother’s Village, and Fr. Petar Vlašić, pastor of Medjugorje.

Mons. Jean Damascène Bimenyimana, bishop of the diocese Cyangugu in Rwanda was in Medjugorje from 19th to 22nd of May, 2008.

Mons. Bimenyimana presided Holy Mass for the French speaking pilgrims where he also gave the homily, concelebrated Holy Mass for the German speaking pilgrims, and participated in the Evening Prayer program. He climbed the Apparition Hill, he visited the visionary Ivan with whom he prayed the Rosary and was present during the apparition, and he also spoke with the visionary Vicka. He also visited the parish priest and he had lunch in the parish house.

On the Feast of Corpus Christi, Thursday the 22nd of May, 2008, evening Mass at the outside altar was presided over by Fr. Danko Perutina. As in previous years, the procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Medjugorje took place immediately after Holy Mass. This year’s First Communion children, dozens of priests and thousands of pilgrims joined in the procession. (photos)

The ninth international seminar for married couples will be held in Medjugorje from the 5th to the 8th of November 2008. The theme of the seminar is: “Marital and family problems and their resolution”. The lecturer at the seminar is Prof. Dr. Vlado Jukić, psychiatrist, the director of the Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče in Zagreb, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine in Zagreb. (Program and reservations)

In this year's Peace Marathon from Grude to Medjugorje also participated runners of the International organization „Fiaccola di Lolek“ carrying a burning torch called “Light of John Paul II” which was first lit on Pope’s tomb by the postulator of the cause of John Paul II, and blessed by the Cardinal Stanislas Dziwisz, secretary of the late Pope. This group was also blessed by the Pope Benedict XVI on March 19, this year.

In this year's Peace Marathon from Grude to Medjugorje also participated runners of the International organization „Fiaccola di Lolek“ carrying a burning torch called “Light of John Paul II” which was first lit on Pope’s tomb by the postulator of the cause of John Paul II, and blessed by the Cardinal Stanislas Dziwisz, secretary of the late Pope. This group was also blessed by the Pope Benedict XVI on March 19, this year.

On Sunday, May 4th, 2008, eighty-eight children from Medjugorje Parish received the sacrament of First Holy Communion. Their catechists, Sister Slavica Kozul, Fr. Stjepan Martinović and Sister Iva Bešlić prepared them for this sacrament. This is the largest group of children who ever received the First Holy Communion in Saint James’ parish.

The Golden Harp is a traditional meeting of children choirs, which take place every year in the parishes.

The first Golden Harp took place on July 1st, 1984 in Kočerin, in Herzegovina, and gathered together about 200 little singers. The initiative came from Fr. Mićo Pinjuh, OFM, parish priest in Kočerin. Every choir sung two thematic songs and one liturgical according to a free choice. The basic mission of the Harp is the renewal of the liturgical singing, the encouragement of collaboration between choir leaders, as well as promotion of the creative spirit of composers.

The Solemnity of the Ascension, the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker and the beginning of the month of May brought this year to Medjugorje an exceptional number of pilgrims. In many countries, the 1st of May is national feast and holyday, so many made use of this long week end for a pilgrimage. The prayer program was held at the outside altar.